C14 Summoning

"Miss, young master, welcome. The master awaits you inside."

A kindly-faced elderly butler, clad in grey, approached and bowed respectfully.

"Uncle Zhou, what are you talking about?" Lin Shiyun's cheeks flushed as she chided him softly.

"Shall we?" Uncle Zhou said with a knowing smile, aware of Lin Shiyun's bashfulness, and refrained from further comment. He proceeded to lead the way.

Soon after, the butler ushered Lin Xuan and Lin Shiyun into a grand hall before taking his leave.

Seated at the head of the hall was a striking middle-aged man in white, bearing a resemblance to Lin Shiyun. His presence was commanding, yet he exuded a calmness akin to a dormant lion, hinting at a formidable power within.

Releasing Lin Xuan's arm, Lin Shiyun approached the man.

"Father, Lin Xuan has arrived."

"Very well."

The man's face lit up with a warm smile as he affectionately tousled Lin Shiyun's hair.

In that moment, Lin Xuan recognized the man's identity.

"I pay my respects to the Third Elder!" Lin Xuan quickly bowed in greeting.

"Please, have a seat," Lin Qiyuan invited.

Almost involuntarily, Lin Xuan rose to his feet, as if compelled by an unseen force. His heart skipped a beat at the realization of the Third Elder's possibly vast, underestimated strength.

Lin Xuan then took a seat on a nearby chair, turning his gaze to Lin Qiyuan.

Lin Qiyuan's handsome features were undoubtedly appealing to many, but Lin Xuan's focus was drawn to Lin Qiyuan's attribute panel.

"Name: Lin Qiyuan."

"Cultivation Level: Level 2 of the Condensation Spin Stage."

"Talent: Top Grade Cultivation Talent, Middle Grade Strength Talent, Low-grade Speed Talent, Low-grade Sharp Gold Talent, Low-grade Crimson Fire Talent, Substandard Saber Talent."

"Martial Arts: Golden Flame Mantra (Rank 5 Middle Grade, Initial Perfect Level), Scarlet Flame Saber Technique (Rank 5 Middle Grade, Initial Perfect Level). Gold Splitting Fist (Rank 5 Low-grade, Great Completion), Jade Tempering Arts (Rank 5 Middle Grade, Initial Perfect Level), Wandering Crossing (Rank 5 Low-grade, Great Completion)..."

"Personal treasure: None."

Lin Xuan gazed at Lin Qiyuan's attribute panel floating in the void before him, feeling a profound shock.

Wasn't it widely rumored that Lin Qiyuan was at the peak of the Qi Transformation Stage?

Yet now, Lin Qiyuan had ascended to the second level of the Condensation Spin Stage!

The martial arts realms Lin Xuan was familiar with included the Ninth Level of Body Refining Stage, Enlightenment Stage, Qi Gathering Stage, Qi Transformation Stage, and Condensation Spin Stage, not to mention the Spirit Opening Stage.

The Condensation Spin Stage was a level above the Qi Transformation Stage.

Lin Xuan hadn't anticipated that Lin Qiyuan would break through to the second level of the Condensation Spin Stage so quietly.

Clearly, Lin Qiyuan's breakthrough had occurred some time ago.

Back when Lin Qiyuan was at the peak of the Qi Transformation Stage, he was already the undisputed strongest in Green Jade City.

Should the news of his advancement to the Condensation Spin Stage leak, it would likely petrify the upper echelons of the other three major organizations, wouldn't it?

They wouldn't stand a chance against an opponent of such caliber.

The two sides were simply not in the same league.

But none of this really concerned Lin Xuan.

After the initial shock, Lin Xuan's heart swelled with elation.

Lin Qiyuan truly lived up to his reputation as the foremost powerhouse of Green Jade City; his attribute panel was impressively abundant.

Lin Qiyuan had an array of treasures, each of notable quality.

They were beyond comparison to those held by Lin Qixing, the Head Elder, and other Lin Family seniors.

Of course, Lin Xuan had no intention of passing up the chance to copy these talents.

With a thought:

"10,000 energy points expended. Replication successful. You have acquired the [Top Grade Cultivation Talent]."

"10,000 energy points expended. Replication successful. You have acquired the [Initial Perfect Level, Rank 5, Middle Grade Martial Technique, Scarlet Flame Saber Technique]."

In the blink of an eye, Lin Xuan had replicated all the coveted treasures from Lin Qiyuan.

The cost was the depletion of all the energy points he had saved up, leaving him with a mere ten thousand points.

However, acquiring such an array of treasures made this small expense seem trivial.

All of this unfolded in the span of a single breath, unnoticed by anyone present. Then, Lin Qiyuan's voice broke the silence.

Lin Xuan snapped back to reality.

"Your foundation is solid. You truly deserve the title of chief disciple," Lin Qiyuan said with a light laugh.

His keen eyes could easily discern that Lin Xuan's foundation was substantially stronger than that of Lin Yun and the other Lin Family disciples. He estimated that no one in Green Jade City could hold a candle to Lin Xuan. This reassured him somewhat.

"Thank you for the compliment," Lin Xuan responded.

"Only someone with your level of talent is worthy of Shiyun," Lin Qiyuan added.

"Dad, how can you say that?" Lin Shiyun's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Their relationship had long been defined, but her father's words still made her shy.

"Third Elder, rest assured, I will take good care of Shiyun and never let her down," Lin Xuan vowed earnestly.

In response, Lin Shiyun's gaze softened, lingering on Lin Xuan's striking features, unable to look away.

"Good," Lin Qiyuan nodded, then turned to Lin Shiyun. Seeing his daughter's demeanor, he sighed inwardly before posing his question:

"In half a month, the Drifting Cloud Sect will be recruiting disciples. Do you feel confident?"

"I am confident," Lin Xuan declared, his voice brimming with self-assurance.

The Drifting Cloud Sect was one of Cangyuan Country's four great sects, its might nearly rivaling that of the royal family. Green Jade City fell under its domain. Every three years, the sect would scout for new disciples, and the Four Major Forces Competition was organized precisely for this purpose. The event would pit the younger generation of the four forces against each other to select the top ten, who would then be eligible to join the Drifting Cloud Sect.

Lin Xuan was well aware of this and held unwavering confidence in his prospects. Regardless of how much his strength might improve in the next half month, he was already poised to secure a spot among the top ten.

"Mm."

A smile lit up Lin Qiyuan's eyes, his satisfaction growing.

He then dismissed Lin Xuan and Lin Shiyun.

Once they had departed, the smile on Lin Qiyuan's face dissolved into nothingness, replaced by a look of concern.

Eventually, it gave way to a heavy sigh, laden with boundless reminiscence and reluctance.

After leaving the Third Elder's residence, Lin Xuan and Lin Shiyun exited the Lin Family compound and resumed their leisurely exploration of Green Jade City. Despite its status as a minor city within Cangyuan Country, it was every bit as impressive as any city from his past life, boasting numerous picturesque sights. They knew they couldn't possibly cover all the scenic spots in a short span of time.

Days of joyful wandering passed, and the pair reveled in their happiness, the hours slipping by unnoticed. Eventually, Lin Xuan fell back into his routine. By day, he roamed the city with Lin Shiyun, their laughter echoing through the streets. By night, he dedicated himself to cultivation.

As the chief disciple, Lin Xuan received resources on par with the elders, supplemented by the medicinal pills he had replicated. His talent was unmatched in Green Jade City. Despite having only a fraction of his day to devote to cultivation, his progress was substantial.

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